Kakashi led the trio to the rooftop, where the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the concrete. He leaned casually against the railing, his single visible eye scanning his new team. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood before him, each with their own distinct aura. Kakashi decided to start with introductions.
"I'm your new instructor," Kakashi began, his tone relaxed but with a hint of authority. "Let's start with… Naruto. Why don't you introduce yourself first?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow, his expression calm but with a hint of amusement. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself first, sensei? It's only polite."
Kakashi's eye crinkled slightly, the only indication of his smile beneath the mask. "Fair point. My name is Kakashi Hatake. I don't like to talk about my likes and dislikes, and I'm not going to tell you anything else."
Sakura blinked, unimpressed. "That's not an introduction at all! You didn't tell us anything useful."
Sasuke crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. He had heard of Kakashi's reputation, but the man standing before him didn't exactly scream "elite ninja." He looked more like a lazy, disinterested bystander.
Naruto, however, smiled faintly. "Hatake Kakashi, former Anbu operative, student of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. A prodigy who became a jonin at the age of twelve. Known as the Copy Ninja for his ability to replicate over a thousand jutsu. It's an honor to have someone of your caliber as our instructor."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. A jonin at twelve? That surpassed even Itachi's achievements. He studied Kakashi more carefully, trying to reconcile the man's unremarkable appearance with his legendary reputation.
Sakura's face lit up with admiration. "Wow, sensei, you're amazing! I'm so lucky to be on your team!"
Kakashi's eye shifted to Naruto, a flicker of surprise in his gaze. "You've done your homework. That's a good quality for a ninja. But be careful about sharing information so freely. Not everyone appreciates it."
Naruto's smile didn't waver. "Sharing information is also a valuable skill. If I've made any mistakes, I hope you'll correct me, sensei."
Kakashi nodded, his tone softening slightly. "Well done, Naruto."
Internally, Kakashi was intrigued. How had Naruto gathered so much information about him? Was it through his own research, or had the Nine-Tails shared it? Either way, it showed initiative and intelligence—traits Kakashi admired.
Kakashi turned his attention to the rest of the team. "Alright, your turn. Introduce yourselves."
Sasuke stepped forward, his arms still crossed. "I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I like training and getting stronger. I hate people who waste my time. My dream is to become powerful enough to uncover the truth."
Kakashi sighed inwardly. A brooding, intense kid. Just what I needed.
Sakura was next. "I'm Haruno Sakura. I like… um…" She glanced at Naruto, her cheeks turning pink. "And my dream is… uh…" She glanced at Naruto again. "I hate people who are late."
Kakashi's eye twitched. A lovestruck fangirl. Great.
Finally, it was Naruto's turn. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I like a lot of things. My dream is well-known, and I don't think there's anything I hate at the moment."
Kakashi suppressed a groan. Vague, evasive, and diplomatic. Just like his father.
This team was going to be a handful. An edgy avenger, a lovesick teenager, and a mysterious prodigy. Kakashi could already feel the headache coming on.
Naruto, ever perceptive, decided to lighten the mood. "By the way, sensei, I heard that the bell test is a tradition for new teams. Are we going to do that too? It sounds fun."
Sasuke smirked. "Child's play. I'll have those bells in no time."
Sakura's eyes sparkled. "A chance to fight alongside Naruto? Count me in!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. He hadn't planned on the bell test, but Naruto's suggestion intrigued him. It would be a good way to gauge their teamwork and individual skills.
"Alright," Kakashi said, his tone casual. "Meet me at Training Ground 3 tomorrow morning. We'll do the bell test. Oh, and don't eat breakfast."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Kakashi vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving the trio alone on the rooftop.
Once Kakashi was gone, Naruto turned to his teammates with a mischievous grin. "Just so you know, Kakashi-sensei is infamous for being late. If you want to eat breakfast, go ahead. We'll meet at the training ground around noon."
Sakura giggled. "Naruto, you're so clever!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes but didn't argue. He had no intention of skipping breakfast for some pointless exercise.
Meanwhile, Kakashi wandered the streets of Konoha, his thoughts swirling. Naruto's demeanor had struck a chord with him. The boy's calm confidence, his sharp mind, and his sunny disposition reminded Kakashi so much of Minato. But there was something else—a depth to Naruto that Kakashi couldn't quite place.
He's strong, Kakashi thought. Stronger than he lets on. That Bloodline Limit of his… it's no joke.
The bell test would be the perfect opportunity to see what Naruto and his teammates were truly capable of. Kakashi had no doubt they would try their hardest to take the bells from him. But he was a jonin, a veteran of countless battles. There was no way a group of genin could outsmart him.
…Right?